Parents Reveal Their Timeline for Raising a Child

A survey has asked parents what they expect their children to do and when. The results are in.

When should you allow your child to use Facebook and Whatsapp, have friends over for a sleepover, and choose what they wear? A survey was distributed to 2,000 mums and dads to find out, and it turns out you’re an opinionated bunch.

The survey, which was carried out by My Nametags, manufacturer of durable stickers and iron-on labels, found that most parents start expecting their children to help out around the house by the age of eight, starting with putting their own clothes away, (8 years), laying the table (9 years) and folding up their clothes, putting dishes away and taking care of their school uniform at age 10.

Nine years old is considered the correct age to start teaching your child about money by offering pocket money.

Technology wise, 11 years old was considered the right age to let your child have their own tablet and a TV in their room, although Facebook, Snapchat and Whatsapp were a no no until a child reaches 14 years old.

Most parents felt that at age 12, a child should be allowed to walk or cycle to school on their own, play in the park on their own and own a mobile phone. This sounds about right when you think that most kids of this age have reached high school and would seem to be the age where parents are forced to let go (and a mobile phone comes in handy for keeping tabs).

Fifteen was the age where parents felt it would be alright for their child to start dating and bringing their boy/girlfriend home.

As for bedtimes, most parents believed that bedtime should be at 8pm when a child is eight years old, 9pm for a ten year old and 10pm by aged twelve.

A full timeline is below. So what do you think? Does this fit in with your beliefs, or would you allow some of the items later or earlier?